Button clamp for button sewing machines and operating means therefor



Filed July 21. 1954 H. BUTTON CLAMP .FOR

C FRENCH OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR ET AL BUTTON SEWING MACHINES AND 3 Sheets-Shee t 1 nv v/v mR's HENRY c. FRENCH Aug. 27, 1957 H. c. FRENCH ETAL 2,804,036

BUTTON CLAMP FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 21, 1954 s SheetsSheet 2 lNVENTO/RS HENRK C. FRENCH V H. C. FRENCH ET AL BUTTON CLAMP FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES AND Aug. 27, 1957 Y OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 21, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H HERBERTTEAL THEM J9) lNI/ENTOPS HENRY CFRENC BUTTON CLAMP FOR BUTTON SEWING MA- EEIIINES AND OPERATING MEANS THERE- Application July 21, 1954, Serial No. 444,846

11 Claims. (Cl. 112-114) The present invention relates to button clamps for button sewing machines.

It is found that in many garment factories, it is necessary to sew on buttons of a variety of dimensions and shapes and that frequently only one or two of. one size are sewed on before it is necessary to change to a different size. Accordingly, it is necessary to have a button clamp which can be adjusted quickly and without skill to different sizes of buttons and which will hold firmly each button, regardless of size, and position it beneath the needle with perfect accuracy so that the needle will enter the holes without striking the edges.

It .is also important that the effort required to insert a large button be no greater than that required to insert a small button. Some operators are left-handed, and, therefore, find it awkward or difficult to present the button to the button clamp with the right hand. Consequently, left-handed persons cannot operate the machine satisfactorily or are slow and awkward in doing so. The machine should, therefore, be possible of operation with equal ease by either right or left-handed persons.

The machine and button clamp embodying the present invention meets these requirements. It may be adjusted by a single nut for any size button within the limits of the device and may be adjusted for use by either a lefthanded or right-handed operator quickly and easily. When so adjusted each button is accurately positioned with respect to the needle, and no more force is required to put in place a large button, such as an overcoat button, than is required for a small button, such as a sleeve button.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of the right side of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22, Fig. 1, looking down, the parts being adjusted for use by a right-handed operator.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the ends of the side clamp with a button between them.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in position for use by a left-handed operator.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing the principal parts separated from each other vertically.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the top plate 27.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bottom plate 34.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cam plate 28.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the rear clamp arm 29.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of link 46 with the part 63 of the stud 48 (see Fig. 12) shown in section.

, Fig. 12 is an elevation of stud 48.

atent ice Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the clamp when used for buttons of different sizes.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a sewing machine having an overhanging arm 12 and a bed plate 13. The forward end of arm 12 is provided with a vertically extending bore 6 which slidably receives therein a tube or sleeve 11 which is movable up and down with respect to the arm 12 and the bed plate 13. Suitable mechanism, which it is not necessary to describe, is provided for this purpose. A button clamp assembly is secured to the lower end of sleeve 11 and it is to this assembly that the present invention relates.

The clamp itself will now be described. The lower end of the sleeve 11 (see Fig. 6) terminates in a screwthreaded stud 10 formed with two shoulders 8 and 9, above which is secured a top plate 27 (see Fig. 7). Above the top plate 27 is a disk 45 formed with a handle 44.

Above the disk 45 is coil spring 53 surrounding the sleeve 11 and having two projecting ends 54 (see Figs. 2 and 5). The front of the sleeve 11 is slabbed off, as shown at 64, and a bar 61, (see Fig. 1) rests against the slabbed oif area 64 and holds the sleeve 11 against rotation. Carried by the lower end of the sleeve 11 are three plates, the top plate 27, the bottom plate 34, and the cam plate 28 which slides between them. The cam plate 28 is shown in detail in Fig. 9 and the bottom plate 34 in Fig. 8. At the front end of the cam plate 28, i. e., lefthand end as shown in Fig. 9, is a downwardly bent projection shaped as shown in Fig. 10, which forms the rear clamp arm 29. The underside of this clamp arm 29 is knurled or roughened, as shown at 1 (see Figs. 4, 6 and 10), for contact with the cloth to which the button A is to be sewn. The cam plate 28 is provided with two longitudinal slots 30 and 31 along its center line and two curved cam slots 32 and 33.

The top plate 27 is rigidly mounted on the sleeve 11. The

11 by a nut 38, (see Fig. 6) on the screw-threaded lower end 10 of the sleeve. The bottom plate 34 carries near its rear end a guide pin 35 which extends up into the slot 31 of cam plate 28 and the bottom plate 34 has a stud 39 on each front corner. Each stud 39 has a flange or shoulder 40 (see Fig. 6) which rests against the upper surface of the bottom plate 34 and is of a height equal to the thickness of the cam plate 28. The studs 39 extend upwardly through the front corners of the top plate 27 and prevent rotation of the bottom plate 34 about the aXis of sleeve 11.

Two side clamp arms 42, 42 each carrying a side clamp 41 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) are pivoted intermediate their ends on the studs 39 between the bottom plate 34 and the top plate 2.7. The rear ends of the arms 42 rest on the upper surface of the cam plate 28 and the intermediate portions rest on the flanges 4d. The front ends of these clamp arms are bent downward and forward as shown in Fig. 1 and the side clamps 41 secured to them are provided with knurled or roughened under surfaces, bb as shown also in Figs. 4 and 6. At the rear ends of side clamp arms 42 are studs 43, 43 adapted for relative movement in the cam slots 32 and 33 in the cam plate 28. The side clamps 41 are grooved or undercut to form a ledge 2 (see Fig. 6) on which the bottom .of the button A can rest when in position for stitching to the work. The rear clamp 29 is provided with an inclined surface c, see Fig. 10, forming part of the space within which the button A rests when in place. This construction is such that the operator can push button A in from the front until its rear edge strikes the inclined surface 0, after which the inclined surface pushes the rear edge of the button down until it rests on the ledge d of the forwardly projecting portion of the rear clamp and on the ledges e of the side clamps 41. By this arrangement the button is always horizontal when it has been pushed back as far as it will go.

Each of the two side clamps 41 contacts the sides of the button at a point forward of the center of the button as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Therefore, the side clamps exert a force on the button, one component of which tends to push the button back against the back clamp 29 and to hold "it there and prevents it being displaced during the sewing operation.

A link 46 (see Figs. 2, 5 and 11) is pivotally con nected at one end to a stud 56 (see Fig. 6) on the handle 44 of the'disk 45. This link 46 is slotted as shown at 47 to receive a screw-threaded stud 43 (see Fig. 12). The lowerend' of this stud is cylindrical and above the cylindrical portion is a disk shaped shoulder 62 and above this is a portion with two flat side faces 63 which slide in the slot 47 in link 46. On top of the stud 48 is a knurled clamping nut 49 (see Figs. 1 and 2) by which the ilink 46 may be clamped against the disk-like shoulder 62 while the stud 48 is still free to turn in the hole 60 in the cam plate 28.

The coil spring 53, see particularly Fig. 5, which surrounds the sleeve 11 is arranged with its ends 54 projecting radially. When the parts are in position for use by a right-handed operator, as shown in Fig. 2, one end of the spring bears against the stud 39 on the righthand side of the bottom plate 34 while the other end 'bear against the stud 56 by which the end of the link 46 is pivoted to the lever handle 44. This spring 53 acts to push forward the cam plate 28 and back clamp 29 which is carried by it. Therefore, the clamp can be opened manually by moving the handle 44, whichacting through link 46 moves the cam plate 28 back against the force of the spring 3, which, when the handle. 44 is released, restores the parts to clamping position.

When it is desired to arrange the button clamp for use by a left-handed operator, (see Fig. 5), the end 54 of the spring 53 is disengaged from the stud 56, the clamping nut 49 on the top of stud 48 is loosened sufficiently to permit the other end of link 46 to be lifted off the stud 56. The link 46 is then swing around stud 48 to the other side of the sleeve 11, this movement being indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 5, after which the handle 44 is swung around to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the link 46 re-engaged with stud 56 and the clamping nut 49 is tightened. Finally, the end 54 of the spring 53 is lifted over the stud 56 and brought into position to bear on the back side of the stud while the other end 54 now bears against stud 39, as shown in Fig. 5. By this operation the handle 44 is changed to the other side of the machine where it will be in convenient position for the left-handed operator.

In the operation of the device the clamp is first arranged as described to suit the convenience of the operator, whether right or left-haned. The operator then adjusts the clamp to the size of the particular button to be sewn, doing this by loosening the clamp nut 49, inserting a button and moving the clamp nut 49 in the direction required until the button is properly clamped. This slides the stud 48 until the stud 48 reaches the po- 'sition in the slot 47 of link 46 required by the particular button, whereupon the clamp nut 49 is tightened. Thereafter, when there is no button in the clamp, backward movement of the handle 4-4 and consequently of the link" 46 will move the cam plate 28 back and separate the side clamps 41. The cam slots 32 and 33 and the other parts are so laid out and proportioned that during this movement the back clamp 29 moves an amount equal to the outward movement of the side clamps 41.

After the machine has been adjusted to the size of the button to be sewn and during the operation of the machine, the operator may insert the buttons either by pushing the button in against the pressure exerted by the spring 53 or by moving the handle 44 backward and in either case the side clamps 41 and the back clamp 29 are moved equal distances to open the clamp. In practice it is found convenient to adjust the clamp for the smallest size of button likely to be operated upon and then, when it is desirable to cooperate on larger sizes of buttons, to open the clamp by means of the handle 44. The smaller buttons can'be easily inserted by pushing them in and thereby forcing the side clamps apart against the spring 53. Under any circumstances, and whether the clamp is opened by pushing in the button or by moving the handle 44, the side clamps 41 and the back clamp 29 are moved equal distances so that the center of the button is always in the same position as the center of buttons of other sizes. This is illustrated by a diagram forming Fig. 13, in which a small button A is shown in full line and a large button A1 is shown in dot and dash line. The positions of the three clamp members 41, 29 and 41 when holding the small button are likewise shown in full line while, when holding the large button, they are shown in dot and dash lines. It will beobserved that the center of the button, regardless of size, remains in the same position since the three clamps move the same distance as a result of the shape of the three slots 32 and 33 in the cam plate 28. The spring 53 always exerts the same pressure on the studs 39 and 56, and, therefore, pressure exerted by the three clamps on the edge of the button is also substantially the same regardless of the size of the button.

The arrangements described herein are of great importance in the practical operation of button sewing machines, first, because the operator can sew buttons of various sizes without substituting one button clamp for another, and second, because she can rotate the but ton with her thumb to bring the holes into alignment with the needle and can do this as easily with a large button as with a small button. The operator does not have to exert heavy pressure with her thumb on the edge of the button which is necessary with button clamps as heretofore constructed and which frequently produces a sore spot on the thumb.

When it is desired to increase the pressure exerted by the clamps 'on a button, a button is inserted in the clamp and the clamp nut 49 is loosened. Then the handle 44 is moved rearwardly and the clamp nut 49 is tightened. This will prevent the handle 44 from returning'into contact with the stud 39 and allow the spring 53 to exert its full force in closing the clamps. It will be obvious that the force exerted by the spring will be governed by the distance which the handle 44 is spaced from the stud 39.

When buttons having irregular shapes are to be sewn on garments it is sometimes diflicult to rotate the button for the proper alignment of the holes therein after it has been placed in the clamp. However, with the present device, it is merely necessary for the operator to push the button rearwardly whereby the clamps will be spread allowing the free rotation of the button. After the button has been rotated to the desired position, release of the rearward pressure on the button will allow the clamps to grip the buttonf We claim:

1. In a button clamp for button sewing machines and the like and in combination, a support fixed in respect to the other parts, a bottom plate secured thereto, a guide pin thereon, a cam plate'resting thereon and having a rear clamping member and four slots therein, two" of which are cam slots and two of which are longitudinal slots, one longitudinal slot straddling the support'and the other longitudinal slot straddling the guide pin on the bottom plate, two arms each provided with a side clamp to engage a side of the button to be held, said arms being pivoted, on the plate and each having on its end opposite the side clamp a cam follower in one of the cam slots in the cam plate, a lever pivoted on the support and a link connecting the cam plate and the lever whereby movement of the lever will move the cam plate and consequently the said arms to open the clamp.

2. In a button clamp for button sewing machines and the like and in combination, a support fixed in respect to the other parts, a bottom plate secured thereto, a guide pin thereon, a cam plate resting thereon and having a rear clamping member and four slots therein, two of which are cam slots and two of which are longitudinal slots, one longitudinal slot straddling the support and the other longitudinal slot straddling the guide pin on the bottom plate, two arms each provided with a side clamp to engage a side of the button to be held, said arm being pivoted on the bottom plate and each having on its end opposite the side clamp a cam follower in one of the cam slots in the cam plate, a lever pivoted on the support, a slotted link connecting the cam plate and the lever whereby movement of the lever will move the cam plate and consequently the said arms to open the clamp and a spring to move the parts in the reverse direction.

3. In a button clamp for button sewing machines and the like and in combination, a support fixed in respect to the other parts, a bottom plate secured thereto, a guide pin thereon, a cam plate resting thereon and having a rear clamping member and four slots therein, two of which are cam slots and two of which are longitudinal slots, one longitudinal slot straddling the support-and the other longitudinal slot straddling the guide pin on the bottom plate, two arms each provided with a side clamp to engage a side of the button to be held, said arms being pivoted on the bottom plate and each having on its end opposite the side clamp a cam follower in one of the cam slots in the cam plate, a lever pivoted on the support, an adjustable link connecting the cam plate and the lever so arranged that movement of the lever will move the cam plate and consequently the said arms to open the clamp.

4. A button clamp including a support and having two pivoted arms, each of said arms being provided with a. side clamp to engage the side of a button, a cam plate, a movable rear clamp engaging the rear of the button and secured to the cam plate, said cam plate acting on the said arms to move them simultaneously with the rear clamp, and a swinging handle movable around the support as an axis and acting on the cam plate to move the arms and the plate simultaneously, said handle being rotatable around the support to a position on either side of the device.

5. A button clamp having two pivoted arms, each provided with a side clamp to engage a side of the button, a cam plate, a rear clamp movable with said cam plate toward and away from the button to adjust the clamp for buttons of different sizes, said cam plate having cam surfaces acting on the arms and positioning them in positions determined by the position of the cam plate and the rear clamp, a bottom plate on which the arms are pivoted, a central member supporting the bottom plate, a member having a handle thereon, said member being rotatable about the supporting member, a link connecting the handle and the cam plate, and detachable means connecting the cam plate and the link and permitting the handle to be swung from the right-hand side of the de vice to the left-hand side and vice versa.

6. In a button clamp for button sewing machines and the like and in combination, a support fixed in respect to the other parts, a bottom plate secured thereto, a guide pin thereon, a cam plate resting thereon and having a rear clamping member and four slots therein, two of which are longitudinal slots, one longitudinal slot straddling the support and the other longitudinal slot straddling the guide pin on the bottom plate, two arms each provided lever being capable of being located on either side of the clamp.

7. In a button clamp for button sewing machines and the like and in combination, a support fixed in respect to the other parts, a bottom plate secured thereto, a guide pin thereon, a cam plate resting thereon and having a rear clamping member and four slots therein, two of which are cam slots and two of which are longitudinal slots, one longitudinal slot straddling the support and the other longitudinal slot straddling the guide pin on the bottom plate, two arms each provided with aside clamp to engage a side of the button to be held, said arms being pivoted on the bottom plate and each having on its end opposite the side clamp a cam follower in one of the cam slots in the cam plate, a lever pivoted on the support, a slotted link connecting the cam plate and the lever whereby movement of the lever will move the cam plate and consequently the said arms to open the clamp and a spring to move the parts in the reverse direction, said lever being capable of being located on either side of the clamp.

8. In a button clamp for button sewing machines and the like in combination, a support fixed in respect to the other parts, a bottom plate secured thereto, a guide pin thereon, a cam plate resting thereon and having a rear clamping member and four slots therein, two of which are cam slots and two of which are longitudinal slots, one longitudinal slot straddling the support and the other longitudinal slot straddling the guide pin on the bottom plate, two arms each provided with a side clamp to en gage a side of the button to be held, said arms being pivoted on the bottom plate and each having on its end opposite the side clamp a cam receiver in one of the cam slots in the cam plate, a lever pivoted on the support, an adjustable link connecting the cam plate and the lever so arranged that movement of the lever will move the cam plate and consequently the said arms to open the clamp, said lever being capable of being lo 'cated on either side of the clamp.

9. A button clamp having two pivoted arms, each provided with a side clamp to engage the side of a button, a movable rear clamp, joint operating means for said side and rear clamp, a single operating handle for said joint operating means, means pivotally mounting said handle centrally on said clamp, whereby it may be selectively located on either side of said clamp, and means adapted to adjustably connect said handle to said joint operating means, whereby the positions of said side and rear clamps are determined by the adjustment of the handle with respect to the joint operating means, said handle when located on either side of said clam-p acting on said clamp to open and shut it after the adjustment of the handle with respect to the joint operating means has been made.

10, A button clamp having two pivoted arms, each provided with a side clamp to engage the side of a button, a movable rear clamp movable toward and away from the button, a cam plate carrying the rear clamp, connections between the cam plate and the pivoted arms and positioning them in positions determined by the position of the rear clamp and a single handle, means adapted to adjustably connect said handle to said cam 'plate to thereby adjust the clamp for buttons of diflerent sizes and means pivotally mounting said handle centrally on said clam-p, whereby it may be located on either side of the clamp to act on the cam plate to open and shut said clamp after the adjustment of the handle with respectto the joint operating means has been made.

11. In combination, a post forming part ofa button sewing machine, a clamp mounted on said post and having two pivoted arms each provided with a side clamp to engage a side of a button, said post forming the sole support for said clamp, a movable rear clamp movable toward and away from the button, a cam plate carrying the rear clamp, connections between the cam plate and the pivoted arms and positioning them in positions deter-mined by the position of the rear clamp, a single handle, means adjustably connecting said handle to the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 822,551 Powell June 5, 1906 1,366,348 Barron Jan. 25, 1921 1,812,327 Ericsson June 30, 1931 2,352,681 Avis July 4, 1944 

